Pilot/Controller Glossary
3/29/18
V
VASI-
(See VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR.)
VCOA-
(See VISUAL CLIMB OVER AIRPORT.)
VDP-
(See VISUAL DESCENT POINT.)
VECTOR- A heading issued to an aircraft to provide
navigational guidance by radar.
(See ICAO term RADAR VECTORING.)
VERIFY- Request confirmation of information;
e.g., "verify assigned altitude."
VERIFY SPECIFIC DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF
(OR TURNS AFTER TAKEOFF)- Used by ATC to
ascertain an aircraft"s direction of takeoff and/or
direction of turn after takeoff. It is normally used for
IFR departures from an airport not having a control
tower. When direct communication with the pilot is
not possible, the request and information may be
relayed through an FSS, dispatcher, or by other
means.
(See IFR TAKEOFF MINIMUMS AND
DEPARTURE PROCEDURES.)
VERTEX- The last fix adapted on the arrival speed
segments. Normally, it will be the outer marker of the
runway in use. However, it may be the actual
threshold or other suitable common point on the
approach path for the particular runway configuration.
VERTEX TIME OF ARRIVAL- A calculated time of
aircraft arrival over the adapted vertex for the runway
configuration in use. The time is calculated via the
optimum flight path using adapted speed segments.
VERTICAL NAVIGATION (VNAV)" A function of
area navigation (RNAV) equipment which calculates,
displays, and provides vertical guidance to a profile
or path.
VERTICAL SEPARATION- Separation between
aircraft expressed in units of vertical distance.
(See SEPARATION.)
VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT (VTOL)- Aircraft capable of vertical climbs
and/or descents and of using very short runways or
small areas for takeoff and landings. These aircraft
include, but are not limited to, helicopters.
(See SHORT TAKEOFF AND LANDING
AIRCRAFT.)
VERY HIGH FREQUENCY (VHF)- The frequency
band between 30 and 300 MHz. Portions of this band,
108 to 118 MHz, are used for certain NAVAIDs; 118
to 136 MHz are used for civil air/ground voice
communications. Other frequencies in this band are
used for purposes not related to air traffic control.
VERY HIGH FREQUENCY OMNIDIRECTIONAL RANGE STATION-
(See VOR.)
VERY LOW FREQUENCY (VLF)- The frequency
band between 3 and 30 kHz.
VFR-
(See VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.)
VFR AIRCRAFT- An aircraft conducting flight in
accordance with visual flight rules.
(See VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.)
VFR CONDITIONS- Weather conditions equal to
or better than the minimum for flight under visual
flight rules. The term may be used as an ATC
clearance/instruction only when:
a. An IFR aircraft requests a climb/descent in
VFR conditions.
b. The clearance will result in noise abatement
benefits where part of the IFR departure route does
not conform to an FAA approved noise abatement
route or altitude.
c. A pilot has requested a practice instrument
approach and is not on an IFR flight plan.
Note: All pilots receiving this authorization must
comply with the VFR visibility and distance from
cloud criteria in 14 CFR Part 91. Use of the term
does not relieve controllers of their responsibility to
separate aircraft in Class B and Class C airspace
or TRSAs as required by FAA Order JO 7110.65.
When used as an ATC clearance/instruction, the
term may be abbreviated "VFR;" e.g., "MAINTAIN
VFR," "CLIMB/DESCEND VFR," etc.
VFR FLIGHT-
(See VFR AIRCRAFT.)
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